Wednesday’s World News Updates: My Views

Many of today’s front pages pay tribute to the iconic actor Robin Williams who has died at the age of 63. On Monday 11th August, Williams was found dead after hanging himself in his home in Tiburon, California. The Metro explains how the actor’s PA found him with slashed wrists and a blooded knife nearby, and had hanged himself. Williams was battling severe depression, and it has been reported that he was facing financial difficulties to the point that he was working on six different productions before his suicide, even though his health was wavering. The legend’s legacy will live on and he will continue to bring tears and laughter to the nation through the productions he has left behind. Williams’ death highlights that depression does exist and is as much of a killer as other physical illnesses such as cancer. But there are many services available to anyone suffering depression so I urge anyone who feels that they are in a dark hole to seek help and find their way back to the light. My sister, a cognitive behavioural therapist for her company HOPE Therapy, states ‘HOPE: Hold On Pain Ends’.

My favourite quote by the actor who played Mrs Doubtfire, the voice of Genie in Aladdin, forever young Peter Pan, and many other roles, is: “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

Wayne Rooney has been crowned Captain of United. Manchester United’s manager Louis van Gaal made the announcement following United’s final pre-season friendly against Valencia, when Rooney skippered the side to a 2-1 victory courtesy of Marouane Fellaini’s late goal, Sky Sports reports. The striker told the club’s official website: “It is a huge honour for me – and for my family – to be named captain of this great club. It is a role I will perform with great pride.” In June, The Mirror reported Diego Maradona saying ‘“Rooney is the only player who might – and I mean might – get into the Argentina team,” he laughed. “And the others have no chance.”’ After finishing seventh last season under David Moyes, United’s worst league in years, things can only get better…

Iraq vs. Yazidis – women and children are being held captive as slaves or buried alive, and hundreds have been killed, as the Islamic State continues to gain more territory in Iraq. The Huffington Post reports that the Islamic State has ‘reportedly killed at least 500 Yazidis, burying some alive’. The Huff Post also states: ‘While some people who fled to Mount Sinjar have been rescued by helicopters and others have managed to reach Turkey, Syria or safer parts of Iraq, the death toll is climbing daily.’ ‘A United States official confirmed last week that some women are being sold or married off to Islamic State fighters.’ The Guardian explains the horrific event of when a man greeted his daughter who had been kidnapped when the Islamic State (Isis) overran the Yazidi city of Sinjar. ‘“She said she is going to be sold as a slave this afternoon, for $10,” Kaliph said, his tears dropping into the brown dust. “What can a father say to that? How can I help? We all feel so useless.”’ After attending the Global Summit: End Sexual Violence in Conflict, I felt hopeful for women and children in war zones because of the research being conducted and help that is being devised. I am not dismissing the killings of Yazidi men, but I have always focused on women and violence towards women with the endeavor to report so widely on it that it is one day eradicated. Women and children are predominant targets in and victims of war zones. This has got to stop on the principle that women and children are not inferior to men and for the fact that they should not be exploited, objectified, sexually violated, or murdered because a country is in turmoil. I now hope that the measures discussed at the Global Summit will be put into practice, and quickly.

The first death of Ebola in Europe. A Spanish missionary has died in hospital in Madrid after contracting the Ebola virus while working in West Africa. Miguel Pajares was airlifted to Spain from Liberia last week and died at the age of 75. BBC News reports ‘more than 1,000 people have died in Liberia, Guninea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since the outbreak was first reported in February.’ ‘Mr Pajares had been working with Ebola patients at the San Jose de Monrovia Hospital when he became infected. He was part of the San Juan de Dios order, a Spain-based Catholic humanitarian group that runs hospitals around the world.’ A serum that aims to boost the body’s immune response to Ebola with antibodies had been ordered for the priest. The Independent reports: ‘Two American aid workers given ZMapp after also catching Ebola in Liberia are said to be improving but there is no way to know whether the drug is responsible or if they are recovering naturally like other survivors. It is next due to be given to two doctors in Liberia and the manufacturer, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, said it had already run out of its supply in response to demand from an unidentified West African country.’ In my previous weekly update, I was quick to dismiss Ebola after reporting The Guardian’s figures for the amount of deaths caused by influenza in comparison to Ebola. However, it has been reported that if Ebola is caught and spreads it will kill millions within a matter of months.